April 2007 letters_to_the

Letters to the Editor
Reprinted from "Crown Jewels of the Wire", April 2007, page 4

When you guys get a spare minute, will you please find a place to announce an opportunity for charter membership in the San Joaquin Valley Insulator Club (SJVIC)?

The San Joaquin Valley Insulator Club is NOW ACCEPTING CHARTER MEMBERSHIP APPLICATIONS! Please email your name, zip code, and preferred email address to Polecat@Oldlnsulators.com No payment required until club elections are final. Charter membership is FREE to all San Joaquin Valley residents. For more info, check out the internet site: http://www.sjvic.com

Mike, so as not to leave out insulator collectors who don't have a computer, or use the internet, or have email... we've added your address and phone number:

Hi Howard - smack dab in the middle of the November cover photo is a rare, one-of-a-kind insulator - the only known example of a porcelain "Cochrane's bells". Strange there has been no comment on this insulator - maybe; folks overlooked it?

Ernie Carlson
503-622-3573

You'll be able to see the insulator in person if you attend the swap meet at Ernie's home August 11th.

In January Sandi and I received a package in the mail from the Federation of Historical Bottle Collectors. To our surprise it was an award (plaque) that we had won as "First Place Winner for Best Original Research for 2006" (for our research on Battery Insulators, Oil Insulators, and Chloride Accumulators). We weren't even aware that we were being considered for such an award. The information that they used was taken from the brochure that we had used with our display at shows in 2005-06. That information was then submitted to the Federation by the Delmarva Antique Bottle Club of Delaware where we had displayed our battery rests. We won "Best of Show," "Most Educational," and "People's Choice" awards at the Delmarva Show. The Delmarva Club used that information from the show in their club newsletter The Delmarva Blowpipe and then submitted that newsletter with our brochure to the FOHBC for consideration for an award. They didn't tell us anything about doing this because they usually submit things and never get recognition.

As I understand it, the FEDERATION awards plaques to clubs for best newsletter and to individuals for their articles... Examples: "Best Original Research Article," "Best Original True Story," and "Best Original Fiction Story." Judging of the articles and newsletters is usually done in early July by the four Federation Regional Editors, and the winning entries are announced at the FOHBC National Meeting and Banquet that is held in early August.

We were surprised to find that our article on BATTERY INSULATORS, OIL INSULATORS, and CHLORIDE ACCUMULATORS not only won FIRST PLACE, but was published in the January-February 2007 issue of the FOHBC's official bimonthly publication BOTTLES and EXTRAS. Of particular interest was that they had copied the photos of the BATTERY RESTS that we had posted in the BATTERY REST ALBUM on ICON and then printed a full color page of them to complement the article... which made for an outstanding presentation of the article and pictures.

We are still amazed that Battery Rest/Insulators were recognized by a Bottle Organization!!

Editor's Note: Charlie is working on an article about Battery Rest Insulators for Crown Jewels. We will be honored to publish it when it's ready. Howard

Just a note of thanks on a great job with Crown Jewels. You and Linda have taken it to new heights. In my first years of collecting in the early 70's, the magazine was primarily a sales tool and occasionally had decent articles. I even added a few tacky cartoons and covers over those early years. But what you guys have done is turn it into a real educational and entertaining piece. Thank you for that. The internet has certainly forever changed the sales part, but getting the actual hardcopy mag every month is still more exciting to me. Wish it were twice as big!

The success of the magazine is due to a joint effort of many people. Linda & I accept your kind words on behalf of regular contributors Elton Gish, Robin Plewes, Christian Willis, Lee Brewer, Bernie Warren, Elizabeth Bergman, Elaine Corriero, and everyone else who submits information or support for articles, show reports, and photographs. And, as I mentioned in this month's DESKTOP (page 3), the magazine would not look at all like it does were it not for Tommy Bolack's kindness in paying for the color printing. Tommy may read your letter to the editor, but it would also be nice if your would write or call him personally. His address and phone number are listed on page 3.

Linda and I work on the magazine as a hobby, even though it's nearly a full time job putting it all together. Your comment on wishing the magazine was twice as large is similar to comments we recently received from Clarice Gordon. Here's what she wrote:

Hello, I'm very happy to renew my subscription to CJOW. I LIVE for it! Are you sure you wouldn't like to print an issue twice a month? It would probably be a nightmare for you, but, oh, so nice for the rest of us.

Linda nearly fainted when I read Clarice's letter to her. But she eventually recovered sufficiently to be able to finish this issue.

Maybe in the future some type of expansion could be considered. But, for now, the size and frequency are at the maximum considering printing and mailing expenses. Howard